OPB’s First Look: Oregon’s flawed school system

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Good morning, Northwest.

Oregon has a new plan aimed at improving public education success rates.

The state’s public school performance has been consistently low for years, near the bottom nationally for math, reading and graduation rates. This plan is the latest in a series of initiatives to address the issue.

Today in Part 1 of her new deep-dive series, OPB education reporter Elizabeth Miller explains why education leaders, parents and advocates interviewed by OPB say that the efforts are futile.

Here’s your First Look at Monday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Set up for success or destined to fail? Oregon’s accountability plan is latest test for a long-struggling schools system

This fall, Oregon’s 197 school districts must start tracking their progress toward goals in attendance, third-grade reading skills and four-year graduation rates.

It’s been a hallmark of Gov. Tina Kotek’s tenure as she fights for reelection next month. The plan includes escalating levels of “coaching” for failing districts and potentially state control of up to 25% of state funding for those that don’t meet expectations.

Kotek’s office says the new accountability system will connect student outcomes, expectations for districts, responsibility at the state level, and support for struggling districts.

But many worry that despite the fanfare, nothing will change. (Elizabeth Miller)

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3 things to know

• Oregonians have until Tuesday, Oct. 13, to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. (Casey Frizzell)
• A poll commissioned by OPB found about a third of likely voters haven’t decided between John Braun and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to represent Southwest Washington in Congress. These voters could ultimately determine the race’s outcome. (Elena Neale-Sacks)
• On Saturday morning, ICE agents deployed tear gas in a confrontation with about 30 protesters in Salem after the group blocked ICE vehicles with their cars, according to local law enforcement. (Jireh Deng)

Get ready to vote!

Ballots will start arriving in mailboxes across Oregon and Washington later this week, and we all have some important races to weigh in on. On this episode, four OPB reporters will help us learn more about some of the most important races and issues this election season. (Julie Sabatier, Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart, Holly Bartholomew and Elena Neale-Sacks)

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Northwest headlines

• Oregon Ducks fall out of AP Top 25 following loss to UCLA (Eric Olson, AP)
• Tracking Oregon’s wildlife, one roadside sighting at a time (Tiffany Eckert, KLCC)
• In Coos Bay, a ‘data canoe’ connects water science and tribal traditions (Theo Greenly, JPR)
• Wildlife Safari in Winston denied accreditation by Association of Zoos & Aquariums (Julia Boboc, KLCC)
• Oregon chosen to participate in a research study that screens infants for genetic conditions (Macy Moore, KLCC)
• Should millionaires in Washington state pay the income tax? Or should everyone? (Sarah Mizes-Tan, KNKX & KUOW)
• Washington immigrants continue traditional barbacoa, despite looming threats of deportation (Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez, KUOW)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• From hip-hop pioneers to a legendary jazz bassist, KMHD’s October music highlights
• Portland-based group Seffarine releases new album
• Retiring Hermiston chaplain reflects on 25 years of counseling first responders

One more look

This Portland castle ‘is an incredible piece of the past’ that’s faded from view and memory

Piggott’s Castle is one of Portland’s oldest remaining examples of castle-style architecture. Its tower, crenellated roofline that mimics medieval battlements and thick brick walls make it a “castle” by aesthetic definition, not by practicality.

John and Kelsey Grout became the building’s current owners in 1979. The couple had to get a letter from their bank confirming they could afford $110,000 — roughly $537,800 in today’s dollars — for what their realtor called a “pile of bricks.”

Today the Grouts feel most locals have forgotten — or never heard about — Portland’s little hillside castle. They hope to introduce it to folks who didn’t know it exists, or who have passed it and wondered about its story, and ultimately revive its legacy as a local, lore-steeped landmark.

Now, they “definitely” intend to sell the home, after previously listing it in 2023. (Cambrie Juarez)

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